Hi Guys, not posted for a while, well I’m finally booked for 18 June to have my over inflated expander implant to the right fitted with a new smaller teardrop shape and also an uplift to my good left boob. I’m very excited and also a bit nervous, obviusly, but it’l be wonderful to finally get to the end of this long road after 4 years.
Can anyone tell me what the recovery time is likely to be for this replacement, it surely can’t be as bad as it was when I had the initial inflation op I was in agony as the chest wall expanded after being flat to the right after mastectomy 3 years previously. I’m hoping this op will be just an in and out replacement. I welcome your thoughts and experiences guys
Thanks
Clemy X
I asked that question last time I went to be inflated and was told ‘about 2 weeks’. I think it is a bit optimistic, but I’m sure it cant be anything like as bad as the original reconstruction op.
I have an expander fitted at the moment and find it horribly hard and uncomfortable. How long did it take before you were fully inflated?
Hi Clemy,
I had expander implants replaced with silicone ones in April. This was 11 months after mastectomies and immediate recon (My expander implants were fully inflated from day 1 - definately not something I would recommend but that’s another story).
The swap op took approx 1 hour in theatre. I was in hospital for 1 night receiving IV antibiotics to prevent infection. I was signed off work for 3 weeks - my GP would have extended it but to be honest I felt fine (so much more comfortable with the new implants) and I was less likely to cause any damage to myself working at a desk than being tempted to do jobs around the house.
It really was much easier that the original op. Once at home I took paracetamol for a few days but pain was pretty minor. I did some of the post surgery exercises and soon had movement back.
Hope your op goes well.
Best Wishes
Misha
Hi Laika
My expansion has been a bit hit and miss - originally it only took around 3-4 inflations for it to be ‘pumped up’ - i then left it for a couple of months to stretch before I had a bit taken out to leave a natural ‘droop’.
Unfortunately after 6 months my skin had pulled back in and I had one very ‘round hard’ boob and my other one soft and a bit of a droop.
My consultant who was fantastic thought that as my skin was extra stretchy it would just do the same again so she decided to inflate it again (this took 2-3 sessions) and I have now had one large boob and one small for 6 months. This will hopefully have left some good room inside for her to swap the implant for a natural teardrop shaped smaller one to match my other side. Have opted for an uplift (no implant) on the left also as I felt that I wanted this to be the last time I went under the knife and my surgeon thought she could just ‘perk it up’ a bit.
How wonderful it feels to finally be at the end of this very long 4 year road.
Good luck with your inflation, let us know how you go.
Clemy X
I’ve just been for my second ‘pump up’ session. They are taking it very slowly because my skin is so badly damaged from the radiotherapy I had 15 years ago. Although they replaced some of the skin with a flap from my back, the surrounding skin is extremely thin and not at all stretchy so I’ll just have to see how it goes. hopefully they will be able to get it up to the same size as my good one.
I was hoping to go up a cup size with an implant in the good side, but this looks unlikely now - oh well!
My consultant told me that I would be put on the waiting list now for the final boob job in about 6 months time - new boobs for Christmas!
I asked again about the recovery period and was told 2 weeks again - so that’s my Christmas holiday taken care of!
Good luck with your replacement operation. I’m sure the final implants will feel and look much better than the horrible expander (mine feels like a rock stapled to my chest).
Keep us posted!
xxx
I’m having my taken out on the 30th as its leaking! Have decided to have the LD back muscle reconstruction instead. Can’t wait to get this one out
Ladies,
Had my expander swaped over for an implant on Thursday, one night in hosp. and home. This is a doddle compared to everything else!! Just taking paracetamol. Also had nipple recon. Stitches out tomorrow and hopefully date for the tattoo.
Kat x